Ashley Tisdale - Guilty PleasureReview

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High School Musical starlet acts her age on this more mature record.

By IGN Music

Ashley Tisdale holds the oddly contrasting distinction of being both incredibly sexy, and a part of the wholesome, tween-targeted Disney marketing machine. The 24-year-old singer and actress got her start as part of the Disney Channel's youth-oriented programming lineup. And she's now best known for her role as the snooty Sharpay Evans in High School Musical.

While it may seem a bit trashy to note the ridiculous sex appeal exuding from such a clean cut starlet, Tisdale's new album, Guilty Pleasure, sees her finally cast off her teeny bopper image and getting down and dirty... if only a little.

Guilty Pleasure, the singer's second studio record, has a distinctly pop rock vibe. Tisdale has cited pop sensation Katy Perry and '80s rock chick Pat Benatar as inspirations. And it shows. While she lacks Benatar's ruggedness and Perry's artistic/indie sensibilities, the record does have plenty of poppy hooks and an unexpected edge.

On "Hot Mess," Tisdale sings about waking up in her bra after a night with a bad boy. And "How Do You Love Someone" laments the struggles of living with parents who have split from each other. These mature themes make for a clean break from the Miley Cyrus crowd.

The album's first single, "It's Alright, It's OK," is a suitably hook-filled, radio-friendly track. There are sure-fire hits -- "Erase and Rewind," and "Me Without You" among them -- as well as some definite misses -- "Hair" certainly qualifies.

And while Tisdale tries hard to rough it up a little, she gives the best voice when conveying her honest, albeit seemingly surface-level, self.

On the whole, Guilty Pleasure is just that, a mostly palatable serving of sonic silliness that will do just what it was meant to do -- sustain Tisdale's career until whatever she decides to do next.